The Indiana Fever faithful are buzzing with excitement over the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft, where the team holds the eighth pick. As Caitlin Clark continues her evolution as the team’s cornerstone, Fever fans are putting on their GM hats, brainstorming who could elevate this squad into legitimate contenders—or at least make them the most entertaining team to watch.
Enter Janiah Barker, UCLA’s 6-foot-4 athletic marvel whose viral dunk from 2023 recently resurfaced, sparking feverish (pun intended) discussions. The video, shot during the Nike Academy, had basketball junkies—and even USC superstar JuJu Watkins—absolutely floored. Now Fever fans can’t stop envisioning a future where Barker and Clark form the most electric duo since Chris Paul and Blake Griffin turned the LA Clippers into “Lob City.”
A Barker-Clark Alley-Oop Fantasy
One fan summed up the collective dream:
“Lob City is coming to Gainbridge, that first dunk on the fast break gon blow the roof off. Caitlin gon throw a full-court dime to Janiah for her first career dunk.”
Talk about manifesting! If Clark’s pinpoint passes and Barker’s aerial theatrics ever combine forces, Fever games might just turn into highlight reel factories. And if Barker can dunk in a league where it’s still a rarity, Indiana could see an explosion of fandom like never before.
Other fans joined the frenzy with their own bold predictions:
“Janiah Barker, welcome to the Indiana Fever, baby.”
“That Caitlin-Janiah Barker-AB lineup gon feed families. Indiana Fever, please do something for me.”
Some were even ready to put their necks on the line for Barker’s potential. One fan tweeted, “I suggested Janiah Barker at #8 as our pick in one of our spaces, and people laughed… she’s an amazing defender, athlete, and highly educated in press conferences too. Learned women!”
The Case for Aneesah Morrow
Before Fever fans break out the confetti for Barker, reality offers a buzzkill. Most mock drafts project Indiana to select LSU’s Aneesah Morrow at No. 8. Morrow, a 6-foot-1 forward, is a walking double-double machine with an edge on both ends of the court.
Statistically, she’s a safer pick: Morrow averaged 16.4 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks last season while shooting 46.4%. Her defensive instincts and versatile scoring inside the arc make her a snug fit for Indiana’s needs, especially alongside Caitlin Clark, whose long-range sniping demands solid interior support.
On the flip side, Barker’s numbers—12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 34.3% from three on just 2.2 attempts per game—don’t scream game-changer yet. Sure, her athleticism is jaw-dropping, but her perimeter shooting and offensive repertoire still need seasoning. And let’s face it: Indiana struggled mightily last season with perimeter scoring.
Barker vs. Morrow: Risk vs. Reward
Do the Fever play it safe with Morrow, adding a proven contributor to solidify their lineup? Or do they take the swing-for-the-fences approach with Barker, whose potential to electrify fans might outweigh her current limitations?
Fever GM Lin Dunn certainly has her hands full, balancing team chemistry with fan expectations. Meanwhile, the fanbase is split between cautious optimism and pipe dreams of dunks that could shatter Gainbridge Fieldhouse’s metaphorical roof.
But hey, one thing’s for sure: whichever way the Fever go, the WNBA is about to witness the birth of something exciting. Whether it’s the methodical dominance of Aneesah Morrow or the high-flying theatrics of Janiah Barker, Caitlin Clark’s supporting cast is about to get a lot more interesting.
As Fever fans wait for draft night, they can’t help but chant: “Lob City to Indy!”
